Music Meets Movies: Globe Originals Breaks New Ground

Universal Music Group's Globe Originals is redefining the intersection of music and film by developing original productions with music as the central creative force. This unit aims to open new avenues for artists, expanding their reach beyond conventional music releases and tours.

Globe Originals has already contributed to notable projects such as the Disney+ film "If These Walls Could Sing" and the BAFTA-nominated short film "Nostalgie." The division is also forging new partnerships, including a significant collaboration with Hollywood producer Shannon McIntosh, focusing on a slate of music-driven feature films.

This strategic expansion into the U.S. and beyond traditional business borders is led by president Marc Robinson. It seeks to accommodate a new generation of artists possessing broad skill sets, encouraging artist and catalog storytelling in collaboration with filmmakers who understand music's integral role.

Key productions in development include "Falling," a modern love story, and "Annie Oakley Hanging." The latter, a "fully music-driven feature" set in the wild American frontier, will feature an original soundtrack by Dan Smith of Bastille and Ralph Pelleymounter of To Kill a King.

Dan Smith exemplifies the multi-talented creative embraced by Globe Originals. His involvement in "Nostalgie," a film set in the 1980s, showcased his ability to craft a narrative soundtrack and score, highlighting his interest in exploring fascinating stories through music.

Robinson notes that Globe Originals is shifting from primarily documentary work to a greater focus on scripted content, a move driven by the increasing importance of music in audiovisual storytelling and creatives' desire to engage with diverse narrative forms.